NASA VLBI Data for Earth Rotation and Geodesy

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data from NASA's Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) measures time differences in quasar radio wavefront arrivals at Earth-based antennas. This dataset supports calculations of Earth rotation, polar motion, and station velocities. It is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with a documented update in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Calculating Earth rotation parameters and length of day variations.
• Determining polar motion and the relative positions of ground stations.
• Analyzing baseline lengths and velocities between VLBI antenna sites.
• Supporting research in fundamental astronomy and celestial reference frames.
• Improving models for solid Earth deformation and tidal studies.

Strengths

• Data originates from NASA, an authoritative source for space and Earth science.
• VLBI is a premier geometric technique for high-precision astrometry and geodesy.
• The dataset's cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata signals its established importance.

Limitations

• Column names, row counts, and exact data size are not specified in any source.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms.
• Sources conflict on completeness, with some listing no author, license, or update details.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CDDIS

Collection Method

Geometric technique measuring time differences in radio wavefront arrivals from distant quasars at multiple Earth-based antennas.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-12 20:06:17.117084

Geography

Global (Earth-based antenna stations)